Bread and milk on hold
About this good practice
The general idea behind the “on hold” projects is:
-The customer “buy” on top of his/her supplies additional breads, buns, milks or anything else, pays for them and leave them “on hold” for a fellow citizen who needs them and can’t afford them.
-For each product “on hold” the storekeeper puts the receipt in a jar and writes on a board what products are “on hold” in order to be visible from everyone.
-Then, anyone who can’t afford buying these products but need them can go to a selling point that has products “on hold” and ask for them. The transaction is completed with discretion as it has been asked from ARSIS.
Expert opinion
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about one-third of all food produced is wasted or lost each year. This not only contributes to environmental degradation but also wastes resources such as water, energy, and land that are used to produce food. Moreover, food waste is a significant driver of greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that Europe produces 89 million tonnes of food waste each year, equivalent to €143 billion. The reduction of food loss and waste is an important part of EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy, which proposes setting legally binding targets to reduce food waste across the EU. There’s no single solution to the food waste problem, but rather a larger system change is needed. Responsible management of surplus food has the potential to address two issues at once, food security and environmental strain, i.e. the need to feed more people, while creating a more sustainable and resistant food supply chain. This good practice shows how unsold food can be legally given to people in need. Such solution needs to be supported by an educational campaign, so that people in need know which stores are part of the initiative.
Resources needed
Consumers volunteers to help people in need
Coordination by ARSIS to both maintain and stimulate the momentum
Evidence of success
- Fight food poverty and helping people in need while respecting their dignity. Here people in need that take part in “Bread in hold” and "Milk in hold" operation have a direct access to grocery stores and do not rely on food bank deliveries.
Potential for learning or transfer
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Local bakers’ association “Prophet Elias’, ARSIS (NGO)